1. The Nature of the Inner War: Not Flesh but Spirits and Deceptive Thoughts

The Christian man carries imaginary enemies that call from dark places—echoes of his former ways, when he lived dominated by the law. These are not external adversaries but internal voices rooted in old habits and legalistic mindsets. There exists a haunting fellowship of checks and balances—accusations, guilt, and false standards—that men often project onto one another, forming the image of a monster that seeks to reclaim the mind. This is precisely why Scripture describes the Christian life as spiritual warfare, not a battle against flesh and blood:“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).The world operates by representation—images, symbols, and appearances—rather than true moral substance. Ps. 2: 1-4"The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.The real conflict lies in the mind, where deceptive spirits seek to distort thinking and produce counterfeit images of obedience.John Owen, in The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded (Works, vol. 7), describes the mind as the primary battlefield where the old man and new man contend. Owen warns that thoughts are never neutral; they are either aligned with the Spirit or influenced by the flesh and the enemy.

2. The Secret Wars: Fighting Wrong Thinking and Testing the Spirits

The secret wars within a man are battles against false patterns of thought. Scripture teaches that we become what we imagine ourselves to be: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). This is no friendly contest with a winner’s prize; it is a fight against a foe who desires to destroy both body and soul (Matthew 10:28).

We are therefore susceptible to a spirit in the mind that seeks to manufacture an image of our own righteousness. Our rational faculties can become the very spirit of the old man if unchecked. The world bombards us with a form of brainwashing—words, images, and representations that war against the new creation. We must remain vigilant at all times, treating thoughts as potential evil spirits and testing every influence: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 – “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

3. Confusion Between Law and Grace: The Natural Mind’s Bondage

A man in confusion struggles to distinguish law from grace. The natural, uncontrolled mind mixes the two, producing a hybrid that distorts the gospel. There is a spirit of grace and a spirit of law. While I reject arminianism, I observe that misunderstandings of law and grace generate powerful emotional reactions—dread, guilt, shame—that can dominate a man’s disposition and hinder maturity. I have watched men feel the pangs of the law and seen how it captivates their entire being, preventing them from growing into mature saints. Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians (on 3:1–5), warns that mixing law and grace bewitches the mind and returns the believer to bondage. John Calvin, Institutes 3.19.2, explains that the law, when misused as a means of righteousness, becomes a yoke of slavery even after justification.

4. The Call to Encouraged Positivism and Resistance

We must cultivate thinking that produces encouraged positivism—hope rooted in Christ. Ps. 119 91 "Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction."We must recognize the subtle demons (persistent voices of the old man) that emerge to trap us in doubt and defeat. This life is one of resistance until we can rest fully in the freedom of the Spirit. The voices of the old life—accusations, legalistic whispers—must be silenced and replaced with the Shepherd’s voice: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

Every believer carries unique weaknesses—the deepest core struggles that threaten to undo him. Men often minimize others’ weaknesses while magnifying their own, a natural reaction among sinners that hinders mutual support and unity. Romans 15:1 – “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

5. The Danger of the Ping-Pong Approach and the Need for Personal Assurance

Our obsession with toggling between law and grace—the ping-pong approach—weighs down the soul and prevents us from stilling ourselves like a weaned child on its mother’s lap (Psalm 131:2). We replace God’s gracious method with worries over legitimate but ultimately valueless concerns.

We need a personal illumination—a living assurance of Christ as our substitute and Savior. This is not abstract universalism but personal fellowship. Christ must become more than words on a page; He must speak directly:

• Salvation in the moment of need
• Love every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23)
• Identity amid weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• Protection from accusers

He must consume us with awe at the mystery of grace, making our own understanding seem small. When we stand humbled before this mystery, we forget ourselves and are filled with reverence and wonder. Jonathan Edwards, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections (Part 3), describes true spiritual experience as marked by self-forgetfulness and overwhelming admiration of God’s grace. Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics 4.12, emphasizes that grace is not merely forensic but transformative, renewing the mind to rest in divine mystery.

Conclusion: Victory Through the Spirit and the Shepherd’s Voice

The Christian man’s inner war is real, intense, and ongoing—but it is not hopeless. Victory comes not by human strength but through constant reliance on the Spirit who renews our minds (Romans 12:2) and the Shepherd who speaks peace.Ps.119:65"Do good to your servant according to your word, LORD."By testing every spirit, silencing the old voices, and resting in the wonder of grace, we move from bondage to freedom, from self-obsession to Christ-centered awe. In this battle, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).